The Hokitika Guardian SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19th., 1922 THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 November 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19th., 1922 THE WEEK.

There will, as remarked in the thought for the times to-day, be very general regret over New Zealand that Sir Josepb Ward will not be a candidate at the forthcoming election. The country needs a man of Sir Joseph Ward’s outstanding financial ability to balance the nation’s accounts at this juncture and bis presence in the lists would have Imd a very import mt bearing <n the general results of the election. 11 is own (lection would have been assured. for the reason that in ice few hours the petition to st 'ml was open, something like 1.500 p.oplc signed and j lodged themselves to secure a successful poll. The loss of Sir Joseph Ward’s sei vices lias been national in its effect. His health lias not been robust for some time, but lias b.on better than it was during the period of ; nxietv spent ft Home. No doubt if i gain entering Parliament a serious responsibility would f ill oil Sir Joseph and he would have to liear a strain, whether in office or not. The eountiy would look to him to advise if he were not directing the financial fortunes of New Zealand, and it is conceivable in that position i f‘responsibility Im would not have a light task. Therefore, for health reasons Sir Joseph will ho willingly excused, but the regret "ill Vo felt just the same. The fact that the country needs bis direction so much, brings inti iclief the short comings of the present Ministry in i.g.ird to finance. Tl.oro dues not appe. r to be anyone on the horizon in the Reform party eapab'e of de ling with the issues the eountiy is up against with its huge debt, ami the financial drift going on. Renilv. finance is the burning question of the time if the eountiy is to rehabilitate itself, and actually it is a special weakness on the Reform side of the House.

In connection with the present int rruption of tho L.vttelton-AVellington ferry service, it is not without inteie t to recall that it was one of the planks of Sir Joseph Ward’s declared policy to make the service a State one, i.nd fit it ill. with th'o railway sc:rice of t’’e Dominion, thus giving a through State connection from the north of Auckland ! to the Bli If. When questioned the | otlifl day, Mr -Massey told a reporter that such a proposal bristled with d’ffioulties, hut it is a matter again, where vested interests over-ride the national interests. Had the foriy service been a State one, and the boats manned as the other Governhmentsteamers are, the interruption of trade between the two Islands and the dismcation of trade would not have oc•inr d. which is another reason for rood that Sir Joseph Ward is not gong in be in Parliament to lead the vay in the matter of greater security n t’.e future for inter-island traffic. I’he proposal is not a new one, by any mums, and the recent course of events vill tend to revive interest in the oihjuet in the immediate future. Phe coilvenience of through transit in i State-owned service would be very rre'd, and the time is at hand whereby die use of the Arthur’s Pass tunnel uid the through railway, even this isolated part of the Dominion could participate in the convenience and benefits of such a service. It seems certain that there will la- a demand for the State-owned ferry as a means of security for tho future, while in addition to tliis factor there will he tho nil round convenience to ho gained, The Gov erntnenfc has its State service on

the Cold Lakes in eonj unction with the railways, and in most countries large privately-owned companies have their separate steamship services as feeders. There is thus no novelty about the proposal and it will come to pass hole in due season.

Apropos of the snipping hold-up the two clauses in the award which me said to he causing resentment among the men are those relating to discharging of men. The first reads : (a) Ashes to be discharged both at sea and in port by the firemen and trimmers except as otherwise provided. (I>) Port ashes, if not disposed of in port, to be discharged by firemen and trimmers off duty, for which tney shall be paid overtime at schedule rates. (c) Where asa-ejeetors are installed the ashes made at sea shall be discharged with the ejector by the firemen and trimmers on watch if they can perform such work. (d) Where there is no usli-ejeetor, firemen and trimmers on watch snail ■ l ag and get up the ashes, and at the I expiration of their watch shall disI charge such ashes. l*or the time occui pied after the expiration of their watch 1 in discharging ashes they shall be paid overtime rates.

(e) Except sub-clause (a) the foregoing provisions of this clause do not apply to ships carrying two or less firemen. provided that if . a seaman is called from his watch below to discharge ashes he shall be paid overtime at schedule rates. Where, in tile opinion of the officer in charge of tho deck, a deck hand on watch on such a ship can safely be spared to assist in discharging ashes, it shall be the duty of the deck hand to assist therein.

The ‘•discharge” clauses are: (a) Tie master may discharge any seaman at his home pant if he gives him not less than twenty-four hours’ notice, and if the notice be not less than twenty-four hours before the ship leaves such port. (|,) Any member of the crew may cud bis engagement at bis home port if he gives such notice as above mentioned. (c) If the ship be laid up or the articles of agreement expire in any other port than his home port. any seamen may be discharged on twentyfour holms’ notice being given, but in these cases, the seamen shall he provided by the employer with a free passage to his home port with wages up to the time at which in due course lie should arrive thereat.

(d) In cases where transport is not immediately available a seaman shall be paid sustenance for time waiting at the rate of 6s 6d per clay, and in the case of a man returned to his home port by rail this allowance shall continue during the period occupied by the rail journey. (e) Where a seaman is sent Iroin one port to another to join a ship, the loinior shall be deemed to be his home I ort for the purposes of this clause. (f) Should a man be discharged at his own request lie shall not be entitled to a free passage to bis home port, or to wages until arrival thereat; but this shall not apply where a ship is laid up or where the articles of agreement ex- [ ire tbv the expulsion of time. (g) Where a seaman is entitled to of the clause the master of the ship, on signing him off the articles. shall deliver to the seaman in older for wages and sustenance money on the office of the employer at the pint- the seaman is travelling to. or may piy him the amount in cash. Tin ugh the seamen and firemen aie reticent regarding the strike question, a Christchurch reporter, in conversation with a number of firemen, learnt that they werb of the opinion that the trouble would he prolonged. It appeared that it was not only the clause relating to the donkeymen that had caused the dispute, though it was stated that that clause was alone worth fighting for. ‘-There are a number of other clauses in the new award,” said a fireman “which are all in lavour of the ship-owners who during the war made £8,000.000 profit.” As an instance of the operation of the new award it was stated that a seaman got no holiday at bis homo pint. For instance, suppose a fireman or seaman was living in Christchurch, and was on the 4-8 watch, it would mean that be would have to knock off at eight in the morning, get cleaned and have his breakfast before he could leave for Chi isteliureb. where be would arrive at about 10 a.in. He would require lo leave Christchurch at 2.45 ill order to go Oil watch at 4 p.m. On other watches it would lie even worse. This state of affairs had been brought by the eight-hour day which has been adopted since the new award came into action. Under the old award it was so arranged that firemen having their home at any port were allowed off all day. the other men pinking up the time.

The British elections have ended decisively in favour of the Conservatives led by .Mr Bonar law. It is a far cry since the time when U'c Conservatives held power. Here is a table of previous governments over a long term : 1886-1892 Salisbury Government, majority 116. 1892-1894 Gladstone Government, majority 40. 1894- Roseberry Government. 1895- Salisbury Government, majority 152. 1902-1905 Balfour Government. 1905-1908 Campbell Bannerman.

1908-1916. Asquith Government, majority 126. 1916-1922 Llovd George Coalition, majority 249. It is plain that the Conservatives will have a clear majority and this will ensure stable government at a time when a verv definite policy, Home and foreign is called for. The elections have taken tlroir toll as usual, without being any respeetor of persons. The widened franchise has doubtless ■ reset maiiv calculations, but the mandate appears to be unmistakable. There wi'l lo in noli confidence renosed in Mr Bonar Law—for he is a safe man of wide vision. Unfortunately his health was undermined during war time, and it is a question whether ho can bear the strain of what is ahead. The situation in the East, whereto Turkey daily adds fresh complications is n most delicate one. Britain will no doubt break to some extent with Greece, hut Turkey promises to lie very arrogant, and will require handling. Tho Anglo-French relations are still strained, and there is helling that

the large question of the settlement of the reparation issues involved with Germany. No doubt Earl Ctirzon who was Foreign Secretary with the exFremier will have a determining voice in regard to the foreign policy. He holds the same portfolio under Mr Bonar Law. and may be sooner than later the next Prime Minister. He is fully charged with the grave issues at stake and understands the international situation very thoroughly. He will become largely the man of the moment for Great Britain, and he certainly has a very heavy task before him.